Module Database

Information for module PHAR2006

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A selection of practicals and follow-up sessions designed for students taking Pharmacology PHAR2002 It provides reinforcement of the material in those courses and also aims to develop practical skills.

Module aims:

1. To reinforce the knowledge of pharmacological mechanisms gained in the lecture course.
2. To show how the action of drugs can be investigated in in vitro animal preparations and
in human studies.
3. To develop laboratory skills.
4. To improve the students' ability to analyse and present their experimental data.

Module objectives:

On completion of the course, students will be able to conduct simple experiments on
in vitro preparations and present their findings in a written account, which includes
details of the background of the experiment (Introduction), Methods, Results and
Discussion. They will have knowledge of the use of animals in medical research from
the standpoint of animal welfare and ethics.

Key skills provided by module:

The setting-up of particular tissue preparations (e.g. guinea-pig ileum, vas deferens)
and the use of transducers and chart recorders to measure tension or length changes in
smooth muscle preparations
Knowledge of the experimental conditions (physiological solutions, temperature etc.)
required to maintain tissues in vitro and of the requirements to achieve stimulation of
nerves using pulse generators.
An ability to perform dilutions of stock drug solutions and calculate appropriate
volumes to add to organ baths to achieve the desired final concentrations.
An understanding of the use of experimental protocols – cycle times, contact times
etc. – to ensure reproducible results.
An ability to quantify results and present them clearly in graphical form. Parameter
estimation using non-linear least squares fitting of data will be emphasized.